Disclaimer for the entire fiction. ^_^ Standard Disclaimers Apply. Hana
Yori Dango and its characters belong to its rightful owners and affiliates.
The original characters in this story, however, are mine.
This fic takes place after the one year Kaede gives to Tsukasa and Tsukushi. Enjoy!
Prologue
"Makino.are you sure this is what you want to do? Just leave?" Tsukushi paused for a moment.
"Hanazawa Rui.you and I both know that this is the best for both Doumyoji and I. It hurts too much to stay. I.I can't.well.It's not like he's going to miss me." Tsukushi said as she continued walking through the apartment gathering her things.
Several suitcases lay about the almost barren apartment, half-filled with clothes and other necessities. Tsukushi was leaving for America in two days and she wasn't anywhere near finished. There was so much that needed to be done, and she felt like she accomplished nothing. She was still having doubts as to whether she should leave or not, and it was tearing her up inside.
A hand was placed on her shoulder, causing her to stop in her fast movement. She whirled around to see Rui giving her the most concerned look.
"Just give him some more time Makino." Rui said in a soft voice. He wanted to hold her, to reach out to her, beg her to stay, but he knew it was hopeless.
"TIME? WHAT TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?? A year has passed. That evil mother of his will surely return and will be overly ecstatic that her son has NO recollection of who I am!"
Tsukushi sighed. "You don't know what it's like for me. Everyday hoping that idiot will come bursting through that door, look at me with those big brown eyes of his, and say 'Makino, I'm so sorry for being so stupid. For putting you through so much. For forgetting the most important woman in my life.' An-.and..he.he would."
Tsukushi could no longer hold her tears back. Rui reached out, finally, and wrapped his arms around her. Her knees went weak as she cried her heart out and Rui never let go. Tsukushi's sobs died down and eventually, fell asleep in Rui's arms. He couldn't leave her there alone. She would be leaving soon and it was breaking his heart, knowing he would have to say good bye. Rui loved this woman, but he knew that her heart did not belong to him.
That night Rui walked home, remembering Tsukushi's tears and her sadness. It broke his heart to see her like that. Rui thought of a million reasons to convince her to stay, but none of them made its way out of his mouth tonight. He had to speak to Tsukasa and tell him to go to her. She needs him.
"Oi Tsukasa! Quit being so stubborn and listen to me for a change!" Rui yelled at his friend trying to knock some sense into him.
"Makino is going to leave for good. Do you understand that? She won't be coming back. She's decided to go study abroad in--
"Good Riddance!" Tsukasa cut Rui off. "She has been nothing but a nuisance this past year. Always following me around and trying to make me believe that I was in love with HER." Tsukasa stopped as he, for a second, felt sadness in him. The words Rui said, the words he just said, for some reason it hurt him, but he'd never show it.
"You're unbelievable! You are going to lose the one woman who made a man out of you!" Rui's voice filled with anger and frustration. Tsukasa said nothing, staring outside his bedroom window. "FINE! Be like that then. She leaves for Boston tomorrow afternoon. Meet us at the airport at 1." Rui slammed the door and stormed out of the Doumyoji mansion thinking about the biggest mistake Tsukasa was about to make.
'Dammit! After all this time they're STILL trying to make me like that.that girl' Tsukasa thought in annoyance. He lay in bed, the conversation with Rui earlier still playing in his head. Tsukasa didn't know why he kept thinking about it, but he was tired and tried to get some sleep. He had a rough day with everyone harassing him about Tsukushi.
'I'm never going to see her again.' Tsukasa yawned, falling asleep soon after.
Tsukushi stood there looking up at gate number '11-C' 'Well, here I am' she thought as the rest of her friends and family gathered around her at the gate. Soujiro, Akira, Rui, Tsubaki, Kazuya, Shigeru, Yuuki, and Sakurako were all there along with her parents and brother. They all came to bid her farewell and wish her good luck in America. Tsukushi made this decision nearly a month ago. She was given the opportunity to study abroad and without a doubt, took it. She had just graduated from Eitokou High, and she knew it was a tough decision to make. She cried every night, always unsure of her decision. She always thought of Tsukasa and never lost hope, but it was time to move on. Tsukushi had one year to make him remember and she couldn't do it. She tried everything. She tried to be his friend, tried to be nice, tried to be mean, but every attempt failed. 'I'm so sorry Doumyoji.' she thought to herself, a tear trickled down the side of her face. She wiped the tear away before anyone noticed.
"Do you really have to go Makino? There won't be any poor virgin girls to pick on." -WHACK-
Tsukushi smacked him before speaking
"Ah Nishikado-san, I'm quite sure that you will one day find another poor virgin girl to keep you company." She giggled, trying to keep the conversation light and humorous, but it was just too hard to be funny right now. Those around her could see the effort Tsukushi was putting into smiling.
"Tsukushi-chan! You promise you won't forget us? You promise you'll keep in touch and write us??" Kazuya cried with those big puppy dog eyes, waterfalls of tears streaming down his face.
"Of course I won't forget! How could I ever forget the most important." she stopped, realizing what she was about to say. Her eyes downcast as she thought. 'How could she forget them.' Her friends and family who love and care for her. She loved and cared for him, but he forgot her.Snapping back, she hugged her dear friend and said, "I could never forget any of you. Thank you all for everything. Thank you for caring and helping me through all this." A forced smile still on her face.
The remainder of the time, they all stood around and talked of the fond memories of the past few years. Her mother and father were in tears, but so happy that their daughter would go to America and eventually find a rich and handsome American man to bring home.
'Why was it so hard?' Tsukushi thought to herself. 'I'm only going to be gone a year. I'll be back to visit. They act like I'm leaving for good.'
"Attention passengers, Flight 829 to Boston will now begin seating at Gate 11-C. Please have your tickets ready. Thank you."
At the sound of the announcement, everyone gathered around Tsukushi. Last minute pictures were taken and farewells were said and done.
"I'm sorry my brother is an idiot Tsukushi-chan, but I'm truly going to miss you. I'll visit you sometime kay?" Tsubaki said, her eyes tearing while she hugged Tsukushi good bye.
"Thank you nee-san.for everything"
She saved her goodbye to Rui last. It was a simple good bye, but it was the hardest to say.
"Thank you Hanazawa Rui. Thank you for being my friend and for understanding what I must do." She hugged him and he enveloped her in his arms, fighting back tears. 'This woman is going to drive me crazy one day' Thought Rui as he continued to hold Tsukushi in his arms.
"I'll always be here for you Makino. I love you" Rui whispered into her hair. He released her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. A slight blush came over Tsukushi's cheek at hearing words with so much emotion and of course the kiss on the cheek didn't help her blushing either.
"I'm sorry he couldn't make it Makino. We all know how much you just wanted to see him one last time." Akira said.
"It's okay Mimasaka-san. It's easier this way." Tsukushi said.
Walking over to Rui again, Tsukushi handed him an envelope. "Please make sure you give this to him. Even if he never remembers, make sure he reads it one day."
Rui looked past Makino, gaping. "What's wrong?" Tsukushi asked noticing the look of shock on Rui's face. Rui motioned for Tsukushi to turn around. Standing before her was Tsukasa, both hands in his pocket, looking incredibly nervous.
"Uh.. Yo!" Tsukasa stammered.
"Dou-my-."
"Wait." He said, holding a hand up to Tsukushi's face. "Just let me talk. Don't think that I came here because I actually care about a poor girl like you." Tsukushi rolled her eyes at that comment.
"Everyone tells me you played an important part in my life before the stabbing, and I don't remember any of it. I know I was a jerk to you this past year when you were just trying to help me remember." Doumyoji continued. "Anyways, I can't have you leave without you knowing that even if you were a pain in the ass, I don't hate you." Doumyoji finished, turning away, feeling the blood rush to his face. Something inside him was hurting and bothered him that he had no idea what it was, but he had his pride and wouldn't show his emotion to anyone, especially this girl.
"Friends?" He asked as he held his hand out to Tsukushi.
Still in shock, Tsukushi with unshed tears in her eyes, stood there, unsure of what to do. 'Friends huh?' She thought 'We were so much more than friends' She looked at him with her eyes pleading for him to remember her right now. She would stay if he had the slightest recollection, but it didn't happen. So with all the strength she had left, holding back her tears, she extended her right hand out to him and they shook hands.
"Friends" She said. Tsukushi walked away through the gate, looking back once in awhile to wave to those she loved most, and began a new life.
This fic takes place after the one year Kaede gives to Tsukasa and Tsukushi. Enjoy!
Prologue
"Makino.are you sure this is what you want to do? Just leave?" Tsukushi paused for a moment.
"Hanazawa Rui.you and I both know that this is the best for both Doumyoji and I. It hurts too much to stay. I.I can't.well.It's not like he's going to miss me." Tsukushi said as she continued walking through the apartment gathering her things.
Several suitcases lay about the almost barren apartment, half-filled with clothes and other necessities. Tsukushi was leaving for America in two days and she wasn't anywhere near finished. There was so much that needed to be done, and she felt like she accomplished nothing. She was still having doubts as to whether she should leave or not, and it was tearing her up inside.
A hand was placed on her shoulder, causing her to stop in her fast movement. She whirled around to see Rui giving her the most concerned look.
"Just give him some more time Makino." Rui said in a soft voice. He wanted to hold her, to reach out to her, beg her to stay, but he knew it was hopeless.
"TIME? WHAT TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?? A year has passed. That evil mother of his will surely return and will be overly ecstatic that her son has NO recollection of who I am!"
Tsukushi sighed. "You don't know what it's like for me. Everyday hoping that idiot will come bursting through that door, look at me with those big brown eyes of his, and say 'Makino, I'm so sorry for being so stupid. For putting you through so much. For forgetting the most important woman in my life.' An-.and..he.he would."
Tsukushi could no longer hold her tears back. Rui reached out, finally, and wrapped his arms around her. Her knees went weak as she cried her heart out and Rui never let go. Tsukushi's sobs died down and eventually, fell asleep in Rui's arms. He couldn't leave her there alone. She would be leaving soon and it was breaking his heart, knowing he would have to say good bye. Rui loved this woman, but he knew that her heart did not belong to him.
That night Rui walked home, remembering Tsukushi's tears and her sadness. It broke his heart to see her like that. Rui thought of a million reasons to convince her to stay, but none of them made its way out of his mouth tonight. He had to speak to Tsukasa and tell him to go to her. She needs him.
"Oi Tsukasa! Quit being so stubborn and listen to me for a change!" Rui yelled at his friend trying to knock some sense into him.
"Makino is going to leave for good. Do you understand that? She won't be coming back. She's decided to go study abroad in--
"Good Riddance!" Tsukasa cut Rui off. "She has been nothing but a nuisance this past year. Always following me around and trying to make me believe that I was in love with HER." Tsukasa stopped as he, for a second, felt sadness in him. The words Rui said, the words he just said, for some reason it hurt him, but he'd never show it.
"You're unbelievable! You are going to lose the one woman who made a man out of you!" Rui's voice filled with anger and frustration. Tsukasa said nothing, staring outside his bedroom window. "FINE! Be like that then. She leaves for Boston tomorrow afternoon. Meet us at the airport at 1." Rui slammed the door and stormed out of the Doumyoji mansion thinking about the biggest mistake Tsukasa was about to make.
'Dammit! After all this time they're STILL trying to make me like that.that girl' Tsukasa thought in annoyance. He lay in bed, the conversation with Rui earlier still playing in his head. Tsukasa didn't know why he kept thinking about it, but he was tired and tried to get some sleep. He had a rough day with everyone harassing him about Tsukushi.
'I'm never going to see her again.' Tsukasa yawned, falling asleep soon after.
Tsukushi stood there looking up at gate number '11-C' 'Well, here I am' she thought as the rest of her friends and family gathered around her at the gate. Soujiro, Akira, Rui, Tsubaki, Kazuya, Shigeru, Yuuki, and Sakurako were all there along with her parents and brother. They all came to bid her farewell and wish her good luck in America. Tsukushi made this decision nearly a month ago. She was given the opportunity to study abroad and without a doubt, took it. She had just graduated from Eitokou High, and she knew it was a tough decision to make. She cried every night, always unsure of her decision. She always thought of Tsukasa and never lost hope, but it was time to move on. Tsukushi had one year to make him remember and she couldn't do it. She tried everything. She tried to be his friend, tried to be nice, tried to be mean, but every attempt failed. 'I'm so sorry Doumyoji.' she thought to herself, a tear trickled down the side of her face. She wiped the tear away before anyone noticed.
"Do you really have to go Makino? There won't be any poor virgin girls to pick on." -WHACK-
Tsukushi smacked him before speaking
"Ah Nishikado-san, I'm quite sure that you will one day find another poor virgin girl to keep you company." She giggled, trying to keep the conversation light and humorous, but it was just too hard to be funny right now. Those around her could see the effort Tsukushi was putting into smiling.
"Tsukushi-chan! You promise you won't forget us? You promise you'll keep in touch and write us??" Kazuya cried with those big puppy dog eyes, waterfalls of tears streaming down his face.
"Of course I won't forget! How could I ever forget the most important." she stopped, realizing what she was about to say. Her eyes downcast as she thought. 'How could she forget them.' Her friends and family who love and care for her. She loved and cared for him, but he forgot her.Snapping back, she hugged her dear friend and said, "I could never forget any of you. Thank you all for everything. Thank you for caring and helping me through all this." A forced smile still on her face.
The remainder of the time, they all stood around and talked of the fond memories of the past few years. Her mother and father were in tears, but so happy that their daughter would go to America and eventually find a rich and handsome American man to bring home.
'Why was it so hard?' Tsukushi thought to herself. 'I'm only going to be gone a year. I'll be back to visit. They act like I'm leaving for good.'
"Attention passengers, Flight 829 to Boston will now begin seating at Gate 11-C. Please have your tickets ready. Thank you."
At the sound of the announcement, everyone gathered around Tsukushi. Last minute pictures were taken and farewells were said and done.
"I'm sorry my brother is an idiot Tsukushi-chan, but I'm truly going to miss you. I'll visit you sometime kay?" Tsubaki said, her eyes tearing while she hugged Tsukushi good bye.
"Thank you nee-san.for everything"
She saved her goodbye to Rui last. It was a simple good bye, but it was the hardest to say.
"Thank you Hanazawa Rui. Thank you for being my friend and for understanding what I must do." She hugged him and he enveloped her in his arms, fighting back tears. 'This woman is going to drive me crazy one day' Thought Rui as he continued to hold Tsukushi in his arms.
"I'll always be here for you Makino. I love you" Rui whispered into her hair. He released her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. A slight blush came over Tsukushi's cheek at hearing words with so much emotion and of course the kiss on the cheek didn't help her blushing either.
"I'm sorry he couldn't make it Makino. We all know how much you just wanted to see him one last time." Akira said.
"It's okay Mimasaka-san. It's easier this way." Tsukushi said.
Walking over to Rui again, Tsukushi handed him an envelope. "Please make sure you give this to him. Even if he never remembers, make sure he reads it one day."
Rui looked past Makino, gaping. "What's wrong?" Tsukushi asked noticing the look of shock on Rui's face. Rui motioned for Tsukushi to turn around. Standing before her was Tsukasa, both hands in his pocket, looking incredibly nervous.
"Uh.. Yo!" Tsukasa stammered.
"Dou-my-."
"Wait." He said, holding a hand up to Tsukushi's face. "Just let me talk. Don't think that I came here because I actually care about a poor girl like you." Tsukushi rolled her eyes at that comment.
"Everyone tells me you played an important part in my life before the stabbing, and I don't remember any of it. I know I was a jerk to you this past year when you were just trying to help me remember." Doumyoji continued. "Anyways, I can't have you leave without you knowing that even if you were a pain in the ass, I don't hate you." Doumyoji finished, turning away, feeling the blood rush to his face. Something inside him was hurting and bothered him that he had no idea what it was, but he had his pride and wouldn't show his emotion to anyone, especially this girl.
"Friends?" He asked as he held his hand out to Tsukushi.
Still in shock, Tsukushi with unshed tears in her eyes, stood there, unsure of what to do. 'Friends huh?' She thought 'We were so much more than friends' She looked at him with her eyes pleading for him to remember her right now. She would stay if he had the slightest recollection, but it didn't happen. So with all the strength she had left, holding back her tears, she extended her right hand out to him and they shook hands.
"Friends" She said. Tsukushi walked away through the gate, looking back once in awhile to wave to those she loved most, and began a new life.